MOULTRIE, William, American soldier: b. South Carolina, 1731; d. Charleston, S. C., 27 Sept. 1805. He early allied himself with the military forces of the colonies and in the war with the Cherokees in 1761 the confidence of his fellow citizens in his ability was shown by his selection as captain of the body of troops raised to defend the frontier against the Indians. At the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775 he was appointed colonel of the 2d colonial regiment and he also served as member of the South Carolina provincial congress in that year. He was engaged in the seizure of the public arsenals and the construc tion of fortifications around Charleston, and in March 1776 was ordered to construct a fort on Sullivan's Island. This he made of the only material at hand, palmetto logs, and when Gen eral Lee made an inspection he expressed his disapproval of the work, considering it totally unfit for the purpose of defense and advised its abandonment. Moultrie, however, continued the work and when an attack was made by the British fleet under Sir Peter Parker the rude fort successfully withstood all assaults and was subsequently named for its brave commander.
He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in recognition of his services and given command of the forces in South Carolina and Georgia. So complete had been the defeat of Parker, however, that Charleston was not again attacked until 1779 when the British availed themselves of the absence of a large share of the Continental force and attacked the town. The return of General Lincoln saved the city, hut in the spring of 1780 a third attack by land and sea compelled capitulation. Moultrie was held a prisoner for two years and though offered rank and money to enter the British army remained loyal to the cause of the colonies. Release came in 1782, when he was exchanged for Burgoyne, and though promoted to the rank of major-general it was too late for him again to engage in active service. He was elected governor of South Carolina in 1785 and in 1794, and published in 1802 'Memoirs of the Revolution.'